Holy Week is believed to have developed in Jerusalem in the fourth century. The Easter Vigil was already in existence and the combination of heightened interest in Christian history, the construction of churches on sacred sites in the Holy Land, and the influx of pilgrims to Jerusalem for Easter produced a series of services that became Holy Week. These services were held in Jerusalem on the “original” sites as indicated in the Gospels. It was from Jerusalem that the pilgrims took these services home and adapted them into the liturgical cycle in their own churches. In the Middle Ages the Crusaders brought back with them the Stations of the Cross. Below you will find a description of all the services which The Church of the Epiphany will celebrate during Holy Week. I pray that you and your family may observe several or all the services being offered, in order to commemorate the Paschal Mystery, that is, the passion, death, and resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ. ~Fr. Matt March 25: The Sunday of the Passion: Palm Sunday Eucharist: 8 and 10:30 a.m. –The Liturgy for Palm Sunday is in two parts. The Liturgy of the Palms celebrates Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem to accomplish his Paschal Mystery. The second part of the liturgy changes from triumph to tragedy as it focuses on the suffering and death of Jesus. During this liturgy, and in days that follow, we are given the opportunity to remember in ever new and deeper ways what God has done for God’s people. March 26 & 27: On Monday and Tuesday of Holy Week, Epiphany will celebrate Evening Prayer in the Church at 6:00 p.m. March 28: On Wednesday of Holy Week, the Eucharist with Unction...

Mark your calendars! On Thursday, December 7th, beginning at 6 p.m., the Rev. Scott Bullock from First United Methodist Church, New Iberia, will give a presentation on “How to Prepare for Christmas.” The liturgical season of Advent is the Christian’s way to prepare for Christmas. Rev. Scott Bullock will teach us some very practical ways we can engage in some serious preparations for Christmas, and in the process, perhaps catch some of that “Christian Spirit.” The Vestry, in conjunction with the Faith & Fun Committee, is inviting everyone to participate in Epiphany’s Pot Luck and Presentations, which will be a new way for us to engage in Adult Christian Formation. My hope is that we will have four or five offerings of this nature throughout the course of the year. Come and be a part of this new beginning in Adult Christian Formation here at...

Dear Friends, Our hearts have been rent by the images and stories of Hurricane Harvey’s destruction in Texas. Many in our Diocese fear for family and friends in the storm’s path. Responses from our congregations have been swift and generous, whether through Episcopal Relief and Development or other services. Now Harvey has turned toward Louisiana. Schools and offices have been closed in several of our parishes. Floodwaters are encroaching on some homes and businesses in the south and west. We wait together not only to see what this storm brings but also to discern how to be most helpful to those in need. Our Disaster Relief Coordinator Deacon Lois Maberry has been hard at work for days preparing and coordinating responses and providing resources. I have been communicating with clergy in charge of our congregations to stay informed about all of you. You are in my prayers for safety. Together we will get through this and bring aid to those in need. We have received notes and phone calls of support from around the Church. The Presiding Bishop, my fellow bishops, and fellow Episcopalians around the country are praying for us and offering their support. I’m sure you share my gratitude. May our holy and gracious God guide, guard, and comfort us through this storm. And may our common hope sustain us in the weeks ahead as we begin the work of recovery. Blessings…. +Jake The Rt. Rev. Jacob W. Owensby, PhD, DD 4th Bishop of Western Louisiana Dear Friends, As many of you are aware, Hurricane Harvey has brought catastrophic devastation to the Texas Gulf Coast and now...

Bring your ice cream maker for an “ICE CREAM CHURN OFF” to the parish hall on July 30th for the next 5th Sunday Fun! The Ministries Committee loves ice cream, and realizes that we ALL do . . . so why not a CHURN OFF? Participants are invited to bring your own ice cream maker and favorite ice cream recipe to make ice cream. On July 30th after the 10:30 a.m.service, we will be enjoying pizza while we wait for the ice cream to finish churning. Yum! For more details, please download the registration form from this Link or pick up a form at Church on Sunday. ~Faith and Fun...

DIME: Delving Into the Mystery of the Eucharist – Children & Eucharist At what age should my child receive Communion? This is a question many parents ask as they are striving to raise their children in the Episcopal Church. Once we are baptized, regardless of our age, we are welcome to receive Communion. Our Book of Common Prayer (p. 858) indicates that, at the time of Baptism, we receive the inward and spiritual grace of union with Christ in his death and resurrection, birth into God’s family (the Church), forgiveness of sins, and new life in the Holy Spirit. Once a child is born into God’s family, that child is welcome to participate in Communion. This represents a change for many of us as parents since we may have had to wait until Confirmation or other instructional opportunities before taking our first Communion. What caused this shift? The General Convention of 1970 resolved that “children might be admitted to communion before confirmation.” In 1971, the House of Bishops stated, “Confirmation should not be regarded as a procedure of admission to the Holy Communion.” How does my child learn about the Eucharist? First and foremost, children learn from attending church. Here they can see and be a part of the service and begin to understand the sacrament they are seeing. Additionally, from your actions and discussions with your child, he/she sees that Communion is important and that participating in Communion is something you do on a regular basis. Children recognize your reverence at the altar from your body language (kneeling, placing your hands one over the other). For them to...